Best Dating Sites
Looking for a dating site you can trust? Search no more.
Almost 146,000 people live in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and 64% of them are single, according to TownCharts.com. That statistic would make it seem like finding a date could be as easy as approaching the stranger next to you, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Lots of readers have come to us asking for advice on how to connect with other singles in Bridgeport, so we’re tackling that topic in this dating guide. Below are 10 simple and fun ways to take your dating life from last to first place!
1
Bridgeport Dating Sites
When online dating first came around in the ’90s, a lot of us thought “Who would want to meet people online?” It just seemed so foreign. Now, though, online dating is extremely common, and it’s the most popular way to meet a spouse in the U.S. To narrow down your search to only people living in Bridgeport, check out the following five dating sites, which all provide filters for not only distance from you but also many other important identifiers.
Best Singles Site
Match.com is like the founding father of dating sites. It launched in 1995 before any other dating site, and it’s paved the way in the industry ever since. We wouldn’t have various subscription models, the female and LGBTQA+ friendliness, and live events, among other things, without Match’s influence.
★★★★★
Relationships: Friends, Dates, and Relationships
Match System: Browse by zip, age, appearance, more
Our Experts Say: “Match has facilitated the most dates and relationships of any dating site, and its large audience and high success rate make it our top review...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
39.7 Million* | Try Match FREE |
Best Site for Professionals
CityTownInfo.com reports that Bridgeport has about eight public and private colleges and universities, representing about 10,200 students. When you include alumni, that number gets larger. Elite Singles is their dating site of choice because over 80% of its members have earned at least a bachelor’s degree.
★★★★★
Relationships: Serious Relationships
Match System: Search, Receive Partner Suggestions
Our Experts Say: “EliteSingles is a leading dating site just for busy, single professionals. More than 80% of members have earned a college degree, and most are looking for a serious commitment...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
44%*
56%*
|
2 Million* | Browse Profiles Free |
Over 50 & Senior Site
People who are 55 or older make up more than 18% of Bridgeport’s population, but that number gets smaller when you only factor in those who are single. The dating site we’d recommend to them is OurTime. In addition to having your target audience, the site also has easy-to-understand features that’ll take you from single to mingle before you know it.
★★★★★
Relationships: Dates and Relationships
Match System: Search by profiles by zip and more
Our Experts Say: “OurTime is well-known in the over-50 dating crowd, particularly because it has a ton of helpful search features and an easy layout...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Mature Singles (50+)* |
48%*
52%*
|
8.9 Million* | Over 50? Try It FREE |
For Black Men & Women Only
Over 30% of residents in Bridgeport identify as Black, and singles in that demographic who want to date of the same race will do really well on BlackPeopleMeet. You won’t have to waste time sorting through incompatible profiles and can instead get to the good stuff: chatting, flirting, and setting up local dates.
★★★★★
Relationships: Deep Relationships or Just Casual Dates
Match System: Search by location, age, more
Our Experts Say: “BlackPeopleMeet.com is the one of the largest and most popular dating sites for black and biracial singles, and the site is used by more than 5 million people a month...” Full Review »
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| Black Singles* |
47%*
53%*
|
5.7 Million* | FREE Trial for New Users |
Hookup & Sex Site
Finding a Prince or Princess Charming isn’t everyone’s end goal. Some single people just want to get laid. If you fall into that camp, Adult Friend Finder is the place to be. This is strictly a casual sex site (e.g., one-night stands, threesomes, group sex, swinging, and affairs), and, since it was launched in 1996 and has more than 100 million members, it’s one of the most well-known.
★★★★★
Relationships: Hookups Only
Match System: Search by location, interest, more
Our Experts Say: “Make no mistake: this site isn't about making friends, it's about finding hookups and casual encounters. No adult site has a larger or more active user base of those seeking discreet fun...”
Browse Free: View Photos Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) |
Today's Deal
|
| All Singles* |
65%*
35%*
|
25.5 Million* | 3 Months @ $19.95/Mo |
2
Popular Dating Apps
Pretty much everyone has a smartphone these days, and our lives are forever changed because of them. There’s practically nothing we can’t do with our phones, including dating. All we have to do is download an app. There are three dating apps, in particular, that are a cut above the rest, and those are Zoosk, Match, and Elite Singles. With any of these apps, you won’t have to pay to add it to your phone, create a profile, upload several photos, browse for matches, receive recommended dates, and flirt.
Available on: iOS, Android
- Relationships: Fun Dates, Serious Relationships
- Match System: Browse by location, age, interest, and more
- About the App: Available via the App Store and Google Play, Match is a fantastic app for dates and relationships. With a user base of 30 million singles, Match is where you'll have a high chance of success. It's free to download, create a profile, search for date prospects, and receive compatible matches based on personalized preferences. Free members can also chat with select members and send unlimited likes.
- Browse Free: View Profiles Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles* |
49%*
51%*
|
13.5 Million* | Free Download |
Available on: iOS, Android
- Relationships: Deep Relationships
- Match System: Search by education, lifestyle habits, age
- About the App: Commitment-minded, professional daters will feel at home with EliteSingles, which can be downloaded for free in the App Store or Google Play. Not only is everyone looking for a long-term partner, but 80% of members hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree. EliteSingles sees 210,000 visitors and 2,500 users finding love every month, so it's one of the fastest growing and most reputable apps.
- Browse Free: View Profiles Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles* |
43%*
57%*
|
290,000* | Free Download |
Available on: iOS, Android
- Relationships: Casual Dates, Relationships
- Match System: Search for and receive matches
- About the App: Zoosk is the number one app for finding dates, and if you sync up your Google+ or Facebook account, you can have a profile in seconds. The app has 38 million members and will deliver matches to your inbox on a daily basis based on your behavior such as who you search for, like or don't like, and message. The Carousel is another section for matching (tap the heart if it's a yes and the X if it's a no).
- Browse Free: View Profiles Now
| User Base | Gender Ratio | Popularity (Visits/Mo.) | App Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Singles* |
48%*
52%*
|
3.8 Million* | Free Download |
3
Bridgeport Singles Bars
Imagine you’re at a bar on a Friday night. More than likely it’s crowded, you’re there with friends, you’ve got a few things to do (like pool or darts), and there’s a game on TV that everyone’s into. Once you get a beer or two into you, going up to a hot guy or girl doesn’t seem so scary. Sometimes putting yourself out there exponentially pays off, which is why you should make bar approaches part of your dating arsenal. We’ve picked out 10 bars in Bridgeport where you can drink, eat, and mingle to your heart’s desire!
1
L.A. Tavern Kitchen & Bar
L.A. Tavern Kitchen & Bar specializes in dishes and drinks inspired by a variety of regions around the world, using seasonal and local ingredients as well as imported delicacies. You can get full-on meals, like carne asada and camarones al ajillo, or small bites mussels and nachos. Wash it down with wine (e.g., Merlot or Pinot Grigio by the glass) or a signature cocktail (e.g., Rose Gangria or Passion-Tini). Keep an eye out for fun events, too, including Taco Tuesdays, ladies nights, and extended happy hours.
2
Tito&Oliver
Located downtown, Tito&Oliver is a popular Mexican-American restaurant and bar serving up homemade meals (made with produce and meats from the area) and more than 28 types of tequila. The tacos are always $3 tacos, and the house margaritas are always $5. Debbie S. raved: "The food was great and the drinks were really good and the prices were amazing! Looking forward to going there again and again and again."
3
Brasa Pub & Restaurant
Founded in 2016, Brasa Pub & Restaurant is open every day at 11 a.m., closing at 11 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, and Sundays and 1 a.m. Friday through Saturday. In terms of food, you'll find shareables, such as grilled calamari, Portuguese plates, such as Lagosta Grelhada, and Spanish plates such as paella. Don't forget about happy hour either. For $17, you can get six beers or a pitcher of sangria!
4
Mr. Crab Seafood and Bar
Mr. Crab Seafood and Bar is one of the newest faces in Bridgeport, but it's quickly become a go-to among locals and visitors. The crab cakes, po boys and sliders, fish and chips, Cajun seafood boils, and whole steamed lobsters are just a few things that caught our eye. Mr. Crab has 5 stars on Yelp, including from Nick M., who loved every aspect: "Great new spot. Large portions. Good prices. Nice size bar and table areas. Friendly employees. Plenty of parking."
5
Tautog Tavern
Chris Andrews' mission for Tautog Tavern was to open an old-school Northeast pub where people could "gather and share fine food, tasty spirits, and lively conversation." We'd say he's definitely achieved that. The walls are lined with pieces from Connecticut's history. While the menu isn't massive, it is of high quality, featuring Buffalo Chicken Egg Roll, Bang Bang Shrimp Sliders, and a Bahn Mi Burger. Finish it off with a City Steam Naughty Nurse or Ghost Island Double IPA.
6
Tiago’s Bar and Grill
Established in 2010 and located near the Webster Bank Arena, Tiago’s Bar and Grill is a pub offering traditional Spanish fare. You won't regret ordering the empanadas, pescado tacos, or arroz con pernil — a $3 beer or $4 mixed drink. No matter what day of the week it is, Tiago is open for business, hosting events such as Wine Down Wednesdays and live music on Fridays.
7
Golden Star Cafe
Golden Star Cafe is said to be "the North End's longest running no-frills neighborhood bar," having been founded in 1979. Sunday is karaoke night, so show off your skills, cheer on your fellow patrons, and use it as an opportunity to meet people. Other nightly activities include DJ dance parties and pool. Bryan B. shared his experience, saying, "I've been coming here for years. This is a great place to gather for family activities or to just make new friends. A great energetic place to watch football."
8
B.R.Y.A.C. Restaurant & Raw Bar
B.R.Y.A.C. Restaurant & Raw Bar (also called the Black Rock Yacht & Athletic Club), is one of the best bars in Bridgeport for many reasons — one of them being the unique daily specials. For examples, on Mondays, the raw bar is 50% off, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, you can get a lobster roll for $12, and on Saturdays and Sundays, pint-sized mimosas and Bloody Marys are $4 all day. And with musical performances by bands like On the Spot Trio and the Wool Hats, you can't go wrong at B.R.Y.A.C.
9
Park City Grill
Head to the Holiday Inn, and that's where you'll find Park City Grill, which is open as early as 6: 30 a.m. and as late as 11 p.m. Looking at reviews online, we found that people can't get enough of the burgers, soups, martinis, draft beers, and hard-working staff. Rodney Buddy Hargrove gave Park City Grill 5 stars on Facebook, writing that it's a "great place to eat... love the atmosphere. I highly recommend it to everyone."
4
Bridgeport Speed Dating
Speed dating is similar to a wine or beer tasting, but instead of looking for that perfect Pinot Grigio or IPA, you’re looking for that perfect person. You have a few dealbreakers like it can’t have a high alcohol content (or they have to be within a certain age range). But you’re willing to expand your horizons a bit to see what (who) is out there. Pre-Dating is a premier speed dating company that holds events in Bridgeport and surrounding areas every month, and it’ll only take a couple of minutes to get your name on the list.
5
Bridgeport Singles Events
Museum tours, sailing days, book clubs, happy hours, square dancing nights — these are just a few of the singles events Meetup.com has to offer. You can even set how many miles within Bridgeport you want to search for events. Clicking on the name or photo of the event will take you to its main page, and you’ll see all the info you need to join in, including when, where, how much, and how many people are attending.
6
Bridgeport Singles Clubs
Clubs have been kick-starting casual hookups, dates, and relationships for decades — whether the couple locked eyes across the room, brushed against each other on the dance floor, bought a drink for the other, or bonded over the song that was playing. For this section, we turned to Yelp, the leading crowd-sourced reviews site/app. Here, you can read what people in Bridgeport think are the clubs to go to and which ones to avoid.
7
Bridgeport Chat Rooms
If you want to ease your way into dating, rather than approaching people at bars and events, chat rooms are the way to go. Since you aren’t face to face with the person and you can take some time to think about how you want to start the conversation — you won’t have to worry about things like stuttering or your face turning red. The five chat rooms we’ve selected have sections just for Bridgeport singles, so you’re already off to a good start by joining one of them.
8
Bridgeport Personals
Online dating sites were created, in part, as an answer to newspaper personal ads, which weren’t very convenient or efficient. Today, you have some sites that are exclusively dating sites, some sites that are exclusively personals sites, and some sites that are a combination of the two. It doesn’t matter what you call them because they all work in similar ways and can get you on the right path to love and romance.
9
Sign Up for an Outdoor or Sporting Club
Bridgeport has some of the most beautiful weather in the world (let alone the state or country), with the average temperature being 60 degrees.
It’s also nicknamed Park City and is the birthplace of the Frisbee. Knowing all of that, how could you not want to get outside?! The folks in Bridgeport are an active bunch, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble connecting with them while you’re out and about.
Some of the most beloved activities in the city include rock climbing, golfing, and hunting, which you can learn more about by visiting Carabiners.com, SinglesGolf.com, and HuntClubOnline.org. If you’re not interested in these activities, google “Bridgeport social clubs” for more options.
10
Join Connecticut Young Professionals
The Connecticut Young Professionals (CTYP) organization strives to bring together 21- to 40-year-olds to improve the community and make the state a “better place” for current or aspiring businessmen and women, engineers, accountants, educators, designers, and those in other industries. CTYP is fantastic for taking your skills to the next level and networking.
The Connecticut Young Professionals’ mission is to connect people from 21 to 40 years old for networking opportunities.
The B:Hive is another professional group that has its own space in Bridgeport where you can work and collaborate with others in your field. Basically, we’re saying that the wider you cast your work net, the wider your dating net will become. You never know where one contact can take you!
Sail Right Into Love Thanks to "the Port!"
Bridgeport is a singles paradise because you’re in the majority, but don’t let your head start go to waste. Follow some (or all) of the tips we’ve just given you, and we guarantee you won’t have the same dating life you started with. And keep us posted about what works for you and if we missed anything!
Advertiser Disclosure
DatingAdvice.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free for users, we receive advertising compensation from the sites listed on this page. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where sites appear on the page (including, for example, the order in which they appear). DatingAdvice.com does not include listings for all dating sites.
Our Editorial Review Policy
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.
Discuss This!